Signal



y 1934- LA VAUGHN L. MORTESEN 1,967,127

SIGNAL Filed May 9, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEY y 1934- LA VAUGHN MORTESEN 1,957,127

SIGNAL Filed'May 9, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ml i kn zdwflasm INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented July 17, 1934 )UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The object of this, my present invention is the provision of an electrically illuminated signal designed to be arranged on each side of a car in such position that the same can be seen by the driver of a car as well as by traffic at the front and rear of the car, and wherein each signal contains two electric bulbs and partitions so that each bulb may impart an independent or unified signal to warn trafiic that the car is to stop or is to turn to either the right or the left.

A further object is the provision of a signal for this purpose of such construction that the signal lights when flashed cannot failto indicate to trafiic to both the front and rear of the car the intention of the driver thereof and likewise of a construction that rays of light from the vehicle either to the front or rear of that equipped with the improvement cannot pass through the signal and consequently the signal is rendered positive in action.

The invention will be fully and, comprehensively understood from a consideration of the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings which form part of the application, with the understanding, however, that the improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawings nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therefrom as do not aifect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved signal.

Figure 2 is an approximately central vertical longitudinal sectional view therethrough, the hollow supporting post being partly broken away.

Figure 3 is a sectional View approximately on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the improvement with parts broken away and parts in section.

Figure 5 is a top plan view with the casing shell out on the line 5-5 of Figure 1 and the upper half of the shell removed.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit.

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the construction of the plates employed in the casing or housing of the signal.

As disclosed by the drawings my improvement is substantially elliptical in plan, the top and bottom of the signal being arched in opposite directions from the center to the ends thereof. The body of the signal is indicated by the numeral 1 and the same is provided with removable side plates and lenses as will hereinafter be described.

Before proceeding further with the details of my construction I desire to state that while only one of the signals is disclosed by the drawings that it is my intention to secure one signal on each side of an automobile or like vehicle, and the lamp bulbs which flash each of the signals are independently or simultaneously lighted, the purpose of which will also be presently understood.

Arranged approximately centrally or slightly beyond the side of the center of each of the signal casings or housings 1 there is a vertically arranged partition plate 2. The plate, of course, corresponds to the shape of the housing or casing 1. The partition plate 2 is formed with an angle offset substantially U-shaped portion that provides the same with spaced walls 3 and 3 and the connection between these walls terminates approximately in a line with one of the sides of the casing 1. Between the walls 3 and 3' there is arranged a vertical partition plate 4 which has its upper edge bent upon itself to provide the same with a lapping or contacting portion 4, from whose lower end extends a horizontal wall 5. The partition 2, at a suitable distance from one of its ends, has its upper edge notched or cut-away, as indicated by the numeral 2' (dotted lines Figure 5), the said cut-away portion extending partly into the wall 3 and the plate, in a line with the said notched or cut-away portion is formed with a notch 2". The horizontal wall 5 rests on the edge provided by the cut-away portion 2' and one of the corners of the said plate or partition 5 is notched or cut-away, as at 5' and the end wall provided by this notch is passed through the notch 2 in the partition plate 2, the longitudinal shoulder 5" provided by the notch 5' being in contact with one side of the vertical partition 2. The associated plates or partitions when inserted in the casing 1 divide the said casing into main compartments 6 and '7 and an auxiliary compartment above the wall 5 which is arranged directly above the compartment 7 and which is indicated by the numeral 7.

The partition plate 2 in the inner compartment '7 is provided with a round opening 8 for the reception of the bulb portion of an electric bulb 9, the base 10 of the bulb being screwed through the horizontal plate or partition 5 or otherwise secured thereto and the contact therefor being engaged by a spring contact 11 which is fixed on the upper face of the partition or plate 5. In a like manner the portion of the partition plate 2 in the compartment 6 is provided with a round opening 12 for the reception of an electric lamp bulb 13 whose base 14 passes through an opening in and is secured to the vertical plate or partition 4. The contact for this bulb 13 is engaged by a spring contact 15 that passes through the horizontal plate 5 and has an angle end that is bolted to the said plate 5. The spring contact 11 also has an angle end bolted to the said plate 5.

Contacting with the outer edges of the shell, casing or housing 1 there are compressible gaskets 16. Arranged against these gaskets there are lens plates 1'7. Each plate is pro vided with .a translucent arrow whose head 18 is directed outwardly and whose arm 19 is, of course, directed inwardly. The head is arranged over the compartment 6, the arm or tail of the arrow being arranged centrally with respect to the compartments '7 and 7.

Contacting with the lens plates 17 there are the beaded ends of rims 20 which, of course, are shaped to correspond with the shape'of the casing 1. The rims have their confronting edges, at the center thereof, formed with extensions 21 and passing through openings in these extensions and through openings in the partition plate 2 there are securing means such as bolts 22.

Bolted or otherwise connected to the top and at the center of the shell or casing 1 there is .an arched plate 23 and fixed on this plate there is a rearwardly extending hollow arm 24. The shell or casing 1 has an opening 22' therethrough which communicates with the hollow arm 24. The hollow arm is preferably removably and adjustably secured in a socket member 25 that has an enlarged end 26 that is bolted or otherwise secured to the side of the vehicle upon which the signal is arranged.

Passing through the hollow arm, the socket and secured to the binding posts provided by the securing nuts for the spring contacts 15 there are the wires of an electric circuit 27. The circuit, of course, includes a battery 28 and has arranged therein a plurality of contacts 29, respectively, one of which being directly connected to the circuit wire for the battery 28. This contact as well as two of the remaining contacts are designed to be engaged by either of the arms 30 on the off or angle end of a switch 31. The wires of the circuit are provided with additional contacts 32 that are in the path of engagement with a contact plate 33 on the brake lever of a vehicle.

The switch mechanism has been only briefly set forth, as the same furnishes subject matter for a separate application which was executed by me on the 14th day of April, 1930 and issued into U. S. Letters Patent-October 25, 1932and Numbered 1,884,117. However, it will be apparent that the switch member 31 is semi-automatic as set forth in my stated application, that is, the same is mounted near the steering wheel and is operated by the turning of the said steering wheel to neutral position. The element 33, as stated, is attached to the foot brake pedal and it is believed and should be stated that the circuit wires to the signal lamp bulbs are independent of the wire that leads directly from the battery 28. This wire terminates in a contact 34 arranged between the arms 30 and the switch 31 and the said wire is provided with an extension that terminates in a contact 35, that is arranged centrally between the contact members 32 for the wires 27. It will be apparent that by operating the brake pedal the bulbs in the outer compartments 6 will be simultaneously illuminated so that the red headed ends of the arrows will flash signals both forwardly and rearwardly of the vehicle to warn trafiic that the driver of the vehicle is to either stop or has the intention of making a turn. By throwing the switch 31 to cause its arms to engage with the contact 34 and the desired contact 29 both of the bulbs in one of the signal housings will be illuminated and the rays of light therefrom will flow through the entire arrows on both faces of the signal housing and, as previously stated, the switch is turned to neutral position by contact with an element on a spoke of the steering wheel.

As both faces of the casing 1 are open the rims 20 and the lens plates 17 may be removed therefrom, which will permit of the entire withdrawal of the partition plates, so that the base of the bulb 13 may be arranged in the wall 4 and the base 10 of the bulb 9 may be arranged in the horizontal wall 5 when the parts 4 and 5 are removed from the partition 2. The parts 4 and 5 are thereafter arranged upon the partition 2 as previously described, which permits of the bulb 13 being received partly through the opening therefor in the partition plate 2.

Having described the invention, I claim:

In combination with a signal casing having removable translucent faces, of removably associated plates designed to be arranged in the casing and to divide the same into lamp compartments, including a vertically disposed longitudinally extending plate having a substantially U-shaped portion affording spaced walls at right angles to theplane of said plate, one of said walls and said plate adjacent thereto being cutaway for a portion of the length thereof and the cutaway portion of the plate terminating in a notch, a transverse plate which has one of its ends bent upon itself and the end of the said bent portion extended to provide a horizontal rightangular wall, said plate designed to be received between the spaced walls of the offset portion of the first-mentioned plate and the extended horizontal portion to rest upon the cutaway portions provided in said first mentioned plate and said wall, said horizontal plate having one of its corners notched to permit of the reduced end afforded thereby passing through the notch in the first-mentioned plate and the shoulder afforded by the notch to contact with one of the sides of the first-mentioned plate, a depending lamp bulb on the horizontal plate, a lamp bulb carried by the transverse plate and the longitudinal plate having openings for partly receiving said bulbs therethrough.

LA VAUGHN L. MORTESEN. 

